The Water Witch
For years I listened to my Uncle Lloyd talk about encounters with UFO’s, ghosts, and other strange happenings. Over time I came to accept these for what they were…scary yet entertaining stories of non-factual events (I hope). There was one thing, however, that I needed to see for myself. He often talked about how he could pinpoint the location of water underground by walking along at a slow pace while holding onto a willow branch, metal wand, or even two pieces of coat hanger. When he intersected a vein, the attraction of water would literally pull the stick or wand directly towards the spot so powerfully that he could hardly hold onto it. He called it “witching” for water…I called it impossible. Time and again I would listen to the stories with great speculation and much skepticism. I just couldn’t comprehend having such powers. Then one day, a few years back, we were once again engulfed in conversation over the topic when he produced a business card advertising his “witching” services. Now, even though Uncle Lloyd is right at the top of my “interesting people I have encountered” list, this seemed a bit far fetched…even for him. I immediately began my assault of questions ranging from “Do you really expect me to believe this stuff?” to “Do people really pay you to find water for them?” He would chuckle during each response and seemed entertained by my disbelieving tone.
I hadn’t thought much about it in recent years, that is, until my friends and I decided to dig a well at our cabin and needed a sure fire way to find water. We needed a “witch” and I knew just where to find one. I was thrilled to finally get my chance to see first hand how this “witching” magic stuff worked. So, a few weeks ago I was at the cabin when my Uncle Lloyd stopped by. We chatted for a bit and then I asked him if he would "witch" water for us sometime. He said "How about right now?" I said "absolutely"! So, he got his witching wand and a can of spray paint from behind the seat of his truck and asked where I wanted him to look for water. I said somewhere on the east side between the cabin & the bank. He began by walking back and forth the length of the building but didn't "feel" anything. He said in order to find where the water is you have to intersect the vein perpendicular. I started laughing because it seemed like a hoax. He then put his back to the cabin, started walking towards the burning barrel and immediately told me that he felt the "pull" of water. As he walked he would give me updates as to the force on the wand. He
said it kept pulling harder and harder. Then, just past the burning barrel, it was pulling so hard that his face turned all red and he could hardly talk from straining to hold onto the wand. Finally, he couldn't hold on any longer and his arms got yanked towards the ground. I couldn't believe it. It didn't seem real. How can that work? My mind couldn’t process an explanation so I finally just blurted out a disbelieving "NO WAY!" This made Uncle Lloyd laugh. He said "that should be a good vein because it was pulling me hard from a long ways away". I once again responded with a not so intelligent "NO WAY!" This triggered more laughter. He then moved to one side of his original path and did it again…spraying a line on the ground where the wand pointed. Then he did the same thing on the other side. When finished, there was a spray painted line on the ground that showed exactly where the water vein is located. I thought it was very cool but could it really be true?
After painting all the lines he said "don't quote me on this because I really don't know, but I think you'll find water within 30 or 40 feet on this vein." I laughed again. This was really amazing. I had heard him tell lot's of water witching stories but to experience it first hand was, in a word, unbelievable. I asked him if I could try...he started laughing and said "I don't care if you try". So, I began my very first water witching attempt. My hopes were sky high. I wanted to be a "witch" really bad! I held the wand tightly in my hands just like Uncle Lloyd had and tried to duplicate his every move. I wanted badly to feel that "pull" right from the start, but as I took my first few steps I felt nothing. O.K., I thought, maybe because it’s my first time it will take me a few more … so I kept walking toward the spray painted line with great anticipation. I was trying hard to "believe" that it would work, willing myself to attract the power of the water, but as I stepped over the spray painted line…I didn’t feel a thing! No pull from the ground, no strain on my arms, no mystical force exerted against my being...not even a twitch! I looked at Uncle Lloyd and told him dejectedly "I guess I'm not a witch"! I was disappointed. I tried three more times with the end result being the same…me standing there with the witching wand still pointing straight towards the sky. I was pretty sure the water wasn't up there…but then again, the forecast was calling for rain!
Pedro 2006
